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Modern Spa Designs

From the water temperature to the fruit in the bowl to the soothing modern light fixtures overhead, modern spa designs leave no stone unturned. Creating the perfect relaxing space requires an intuitive balance of color, texture and form.

Color theory dictates that blue is relaxing, while green is noted for its soothing and healing properties. Combine the two colors and you get aqua, or water, the inherent color and ingredient in the spa. The aqua hue looks stunning against the charcoal gray slate of Mandalay Bay’s Bathhouse in Las Vegas (pictured above) and it's of course a natural fit in the hot springs of Iceland’s Blue Lagoon spa (pictured below).

Other colors work well too. The Hirsch Bedner designed EDITION Hotel ESPA was widely acclaimed upon opening for its generous use of natural stone walls and its signature sculpted mica wall and ceiling lights, inspired by traditional Turkish bath designs. Close to ceiling lights offer much needed illumination without crowding airspace. Organic colors add a sense of warmth and comfort, while the form itself adds the implication of provenance to the space.

Light, like color plays a vital role in the design of a spa space. While mica lights add warmth to EDITION's bath area, the chandeliers in the foyer at the Long Beach Hotel in Mauritius (below) offer a lighthearted entre to the relaxation that lies beyond. Contemporary chandeliers can be found in a ton of styles to fit any atmosphere.

Lastly, simplicity of space is a key ingredient throughout successful spa designs, and the reason is simple: less visual clutter leads to less mental clutter. And less mental clutter leads to relaxation. Furniture is sparingly used. Palettes are surprisingly simple. These rules allow designers to create the illusion of space in even the tightest floorplans, such as the open Mizu Spa in San Francisco.

For design lovers, the attention to design details is what draws them in to a spa in the first place. The relaxing after after-effect is usually a much needed side effect. And for a lucky few, such as the owners of the Spa House in Cape Town (pictured above), the simple elegance of a spa can be a year round love-affair.